*Evan O’Gorman cleans up in the Wolfe Tones defence. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill.
WOLFE TONES consolidated their Clare SHC status in rousing fashion when firing the last eight points in a remarkable final derby twist
Wolfe Tones 0-22
Newmarket-on-Fergus 0-16
Venue: O’Garney Park, Sixmilebridge
The Clare Echo’s online coverage of the Clare SHC is with thanks to The Temple Gate Hotel.
Having carved out a five point half-time cushion with the aid of the conditions, the intermediate champions were not only reeled in by the turn of the final quarter but overtaken by a determined Newmarket-on-Fergus after picking off nine of the first eleven points of the new half to soar 0-16 to 0-14 clear.
With a sizeable wind and clear momentum behind them, not to mention introducing three All-Ireland winners in Colin Ryan, Sean Arthur and Mikey Power off the bench, nothing but a Blues win seemed on the cards. However, they didn’t score again as instead Wolfe Tones dug crater deep and duly unearthed a superb finale as inspired by the experienced Aaron Cunningham, they gathered pace at the perfect time to run out convincing victors.
Along with 2013 All-Ireland winner Cunningham, current countymen Daithi Lohan, Darragh Lohan, Rory Hayes and Aron Shanagher all stood up brilliantly when needed most whereas in the opposition trench, worryingly there would be no such leadership to arrest that late slide.
Having led for over an hour of the near 70 minutes, Barry Keane’s side thoroughly merited victory which means that they finished level on points with Canon Hamilton Cup holders Feakle, only to lose out on scoring difference by six points.
Their major regret came last time out in the margin of their 14 points reverse to Group winners Éire Óg who completed a perfect pool stage with a four point win over Feakle.
The most important prize of all was to avoid any brush with relegation which was going to be the ultimate hamme rblow for the loser of this derby regardless of the other result.
For Wolfe Tones to lower Newmarket at any time would be understandably celebrated but particularly as it meant that their safety sent their neighbours into a nervy demotion series against either Scariff, Corofin or St. Josephs Doora/Barefield in a fortnight’s time.
With the wind at their backs, Cian O’Rourke and Aaron Cunningham grabbed braces while the influential Daithi Lohan had a major hand in three of those scores as the Tones powered 0-6 to 0-1 in front by only the ninth minute.
A hat-trick of Eanna Crimmins points midway through the half slashed the arrears to just two but despite passing up a glorious opportunity when Dean Devanney raced through only to see his effort cleared off the line by John Feehily, Wolfe Tones responded with four of the last five points through as many scorers in Aaron Cunningham, Gavin Carrig, Devanney and Sam Meaney to restore a five point interval cushion at 0-12 to 0-07.
That deficit was back to just two by the two-thirds mark after another hat-trick of Crimmins’ frees was bolstered by a Paudie Guilfoyle stop from Aron Shanagher at 0-13 to 0-11.
It took until the 49th minute fora wind-assisted Newmarket to regain full parity while additional points from Mikey McInerney and fresh substitute Sean Arthur actually catapulted James Carrig’s side into the ascendency for the very first time entering the final ten minutes at 0-16 to 0-14.
Despite the pendulum seemingly going against them, crucially Wolfe Tones didn’t panic, with Aaron Cunningham pivotal to getting his side back on track when grabbing three successive points in as many minutes at 0-17 to 0-16 by the 57th minute.
Rory Hayes and Daithi Lohan were also immense in this period as five different scorers [Gavin Carrig, Daithi Lohan, Sam Meaney, Cian O’Rourke and Cunningham] fleshed out the final margin in spectacular fashion to end their senior return on the ultimate high.
Scorers for Wolfe Tones: Aaron Cunningham 0-8 (4f); Cian O’Rourke 0-4 (3f); Daithi Lohan 0-3; Gavin Carrig 0-2, Sam Meaney 0-2; Jack Cunningham 0-1, Rory Hayes 0-1, Dean Devanney 0-1
Scorers for Newmarket-on-Fergus: Eanna Crimmins 0-9 (8f); John Feehily 0-2; Eoin Guilfoyle 0-1, Peter Power 0-1, Colin Guilfoyle 0-1 (f), Mikey McInerney 0-1, Sean Arthur 0-1
Wolfe Tones
1: Oisin O’Rourke
2: Mikey Hayes
9: Darragh Lohan
17: Liam Murphy
8: Rory Hayes
6: Evan O’Gorman
5: John Guilfoyle
3: Daithi Lohan
7: Sam Meaney
11: Aron Shanagher
15: Dean Devanney
12: Jack Cunningham
14: Cian O’Rourke
13: Aaron Cunningham
19: Gavin Carrig
Subs
20: Colin Riordan for Guilfoyle (25-26, BS)
4: Conor Ferns for M. Hayes (HT)
18: Dylan Frawley for J. Cunningham (56)
Newmarket-on-Fergus
1: Paudie Guilfoyle
2: Jack Enright
3: Colin Guilfoyle
19: Mark Delaney
5: Niall O’Connor
6: Liam O’Connor
7: James McInerney
8: Shane Lynch
9: John Feehily
15: Eoin Guilfoyle
11: Eanna Crimmins
4: Paudie McMahon
24: Eoin Hayes
10: Mikey McInerney
21: Peter Power
Subs
29: Sean O’Connor for J. McInerney (42)
20: Sean Arthur for N. O’Connor (51) (inj)
14: Colin Ryan for Hayes (51)
12: James Freeman for Lynch (55)
28: Mikey Power for E. Guilfoyle (62)
Referee: John Bugler (Whitegate)
